Explore A Breathtaking Old Marble Quarry At The Ijams Nature Center In Tennessee

There are truly tons of beautiful natural areas throughout Tennessee, but few of them can be found so close to a downtown of a major city like the Ijams Nature Center can. This beautiful strip of land along the banks fo the Tennessee River is home to an old abandoned marble quarry, and there are so many fun, unique, and beautiful things hiding around every corner of every trail. You’ll want to check this one out ASAP.

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The Ijams Nature Center is just a ten-minute drive from the heart of downtown Knoxville along the banks of the Tennessee River, but it feels like you're in a remote natural wilderness.

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The nature center is comprised of 315 acres that feature tons of hiking trails from cliff-side boardwalks to climbing through massive stacks of discarded stone.

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One of the focal points of the center is the Meads Quarry Lake, a lake that formed in the cutout of the old Meads Quarry, once used for its pink marble that has been used around the country, including in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

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The 12 miles of trails offer something fun for everyone. There's even rock climbing deep into the park at the locally famous Ijams Crag, a 60-foot rock face that has routes for everyone from beginner to expert.

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The greatest part of the Ijams Nature Center is their commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the area in such an urban location, and to provide educational and engaging experiences for the entire community.

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Ijams is also a great resource for families! They have camps, play clubs, family programs, and much more that they offer regularly for the whole community.

Ijams Nature Center - GoogleMaps

The Ijams Nature Center is open to the public from 8 a.m. until dusk every day, with the visitor center being open only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Admission is free, so head on out today to explore!

To find out more about the Ijams Nature Center and their mission, check out their official website. Be sure to follow them on Facebook as well!

If you’re looking for a unique, new spot to stay in Tennessee, check out one of these gorgeous glamping spots around the state.